Lake Erie

[RTRAVIS]

This past spring I bought my first boat a 16' 73 Glastex SeaStar 85 horse Evinrude. It would have been perfict for the area we are in now,Delaware and Alum Creek. But 3 weeks ago the better looking part took a job in Erie County Ohio.Now I'm faced with putting a 16 footer in the big lake. I know I can also fish Sandusky Bay but was wondering if it crazy to take this boat on the main lake.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Lake Erie

see below

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Lake Erie

Originally posted by TilliamWe:<br /> yes probably. this past summer, my dad took his 19' Seray bowrider to the area around Catawba, which I though was sheltered a little. Anyway it was so rough, he could not stand the pounding needed to get on plane. And it was a wet ride. and he's no wimp either, he boars all over FL, including in the ocean. But best of luck to ya.

 

[fseries]

Re: Lake Erie

i used to live there and go on that lake very often and i gotta tell you that boat is ok if you stay close to shore when the weather is good but i would not go out too far. if it is even cloudy out be careful of where you are that is one dangerous lake i had a 22 ft. when i moved from there and i used to get caught in some hairy situations more often than not

 

[brine]

Re: Lake Erie

We boat in Longpoint bay on the Ontario side. quite protected where we are but out in the open lake it can be as nasty as it gets. It is the fastest changing water I have ever seen. I agree with fseries. Keep your eyes to the skies!

 

[bekosh]

Re: Lake Erie

I've had my 15' Sea Star out on Lake Michigan. But only on really calm days and never very far out. <br />

<br />This is from outside the harbor on a calm day.<br />Usually I stay inside the breakwater in Milwaukee.<br />If yours is a trihull like mine it's ok in 1-2 ft waves but anything more gets too rough to be comfortable.<br /> Nice to hear of someone else with a Sea Star.

 

[RTRAVIS]

Re: Lake Erie

I apreciate all the info guys. I think I will stick with Sandusky Bay and close to shore IF I take it in the big lake. Bekosh yep it's a tri-hull,hopefully it looks as good as your's when it's finished.

 

[bomar76]

Re: Lake Erie

We are out on Erie every other weekend through the summer.<br />I would be very leery of taking a 16' tri hull out in anything other than a calm day when winds are out of the south. The marine forcasts are about worthless for the near south shore area of Erie, so don't believe anything you hear on wave conditions. The areas south of the Islands are almost always very choppy, at best.<br />That lake can go from very flat to scary conditions in no time at all. I have unexpectedly overnighted on the islands a few times when the lake acted up.

 

[swist]

Re: Lake Erie

Grew up near Lake Erie. It is the shallowest of the Great Lakes, which means the wave period tends to be short (i.e. it likes to chop rather than swell). I've been out 50 mi in the ocean with fairly big waves, but so far apart and such a smooth transition from trough to crest, it was no big deal. Not so on Erie.

 

[vniemo2]

Re: Lake Erie

I would not want to take that small of a boat, onto lake erie. I had my 23footer on the lake last summer, and probaly will not go back unless a bigger boat is in my future. The conditions on erie can change in a heartbeat.

 

[MNOBLE]

Re: Lake Erie

If you boat smart, keep a close watch of the weather and not wander too far from shore then you will enjoy the lake. I fish Lake erie almost weekly and love it. Although, Whenever someone asks someone else "How big is your lake Erie boat?" The universal reply is always "Not big enough" It can get quite rough out there in a hurry. I've had folks out that have fished the Atlantic all their life and never been sea sick. But, within 30 minutes on lake Erie they were Chumming.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Lake Erie

Good advice from some seasoned Lake Erie sailors. Smallest craft I braved Erie in was 21’ Deep Vee with a cutty. When the wind kicked up the boat "Got small fast".